The IV International Conference INUDECO 2019 will be held in Slavutych on April 25-26.
Subject of the Conference: “Nuclear Decommissioning and Environment Recovery.”
The conference is held to address problems and perspectives, increase the efficiency level of scientific and practical research, establish cooperation and exchange of experience on the decommissioning of nuclear facilities and environmental recovery.
The Conference registration will be held from 01 February till 10 April 2019.
On January 22, 2019, the State Nuclear Regulation Inspectorate issued a separate permit to the State Specialized Enterprise "Chornobyl NPP" Series ОД No. 33033/11 providing the right for operation of existing building constructions within the boundaries of the second generation of Chornobyl NPP, performing functions of New Safe Confinement (NSC) enclosing perimeter, after their reinforcement and sealing.
The ground for the permit issuance is a positive conclusion of the State expertise of Nuclear and Radiation Safety to the package of documents submitted by SSE Chornobyl NPP and the inspection survey performed by SNRIU from January 14 to 17, 2019. During this survey, Chornobyl NPP confirmed its ability to perform the declared activity regarding operation of these constructions.
At the beginning of 2019 the Government of the Kingdom of Norway approved the continuation of “Chornobyl Decommissioning Visualization Center” project. The project is implemented by the Chornobyl NPP and Institute for Energy Technology (hereinafter — IFE, in Norwegian — Institutt for Energiteknikk).
The new project is targeted at the development of the Chornobyl Decommissioning Visualization Center (hereinafter — CDVC) that was created in 2016. The CDVC introduces the advanced technology of virtual reality (VR), 3D modelling and visualization to improve the efficiency and safety of work performance at the ChNPP decommissioning stages.
As an example, using the CDVC one can calculate occupational doses for personnel when transporting the spent nuclear fuel. This will help to properly install the shielding and calculate the safe performance time. Besides, the Center enables to simulate abnormal and emergency situations and prepare the response plan well in advance.
On January 16, the comprehensive tests of the New Safe Confinement radiation monitoring system were started. Emergency situations are simulated during the tests and response of specific systems on them is checked.
Leading engineer of the Radiation Safety Shop Yevhen Stromko provides comments regarding this activity: "Tests are carried out as close as possible to the normal operating conditions of the facility. We give alarms to the safety controller, which sends signals to NSC technological systems. For example, an alarm in the ventilation system should lead to the closure of the door, shut-off of air ducts, which in turn will activate the air filtration systems. A sound and light alarm is generated".
During three days, from January 16 to January 18, similar tests were carried out in all zones of NSC. The first zone includes the main space of NSC (space under the arch) and a unit of liquid radioactive waste (hereinafter: RAW). The second zone represents the premises where radioactive waste will be managed. The third zone is intended for the personnel, this is the cleanest zone in terms of radiation safety.
From 14 to 17 January 2019 inspection survey is conducted by the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine at Chornobyl NPP industrial site.
The survey has been initiated by ChNPP and is aimed at learning the possibility to obtain individual permit to operate existing building structures within the boundaries of ChNPP second stage, which function as the new safe confinement enclosing perimeter after they were reinforced and sealed.
The activities are performed in accordance with the requirements of Ukrainian legislation on the use of nuclear power and in line with the terms of the license series EO No. 000033 for the right to conduct activities on the “Operation of Object Shelter” in terms of the need to obtain an appropriate permit.